Automatic signal newspaper receptacle

ABSTRACT

A signal newspaper receptacle having an arrangement including a door and signal flag disposed for indicating the presence of a newspaper in the receptacle. The door and flag are mounted on a shaft which is pivotal about a vertical axis in an inlet opening of the receptacle when same is horizontally disposed. Movement of the door will pivot the shaft and flag, and contrarily a pivotal movement of the flag will move the door. A suitable device may be used to releasably retain the door in a position blocking the inlet opening of the receptacle. The relationship of the signal flag to the door is such that when the door is in a position blocking the receptacle inlet opening the flag will indicate the lack of a newspaper or similar article in the receptacle.

United States Patent n91 Bolduc 1 June 10, 1975 1 AUTOMATIC SIGNAL NEWSPAPER RECEPTACLE [76] Inventor: Leo J. Bolduc, 9861 Monument Dr.,

Grants Pass, Oreg. 97526 [22] Filed: Jan. 14, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 433,226

[52] U.S. Cl 232/1 C; 232/35; 232/34 [51] Int. Cl A47g 29/12 [58] Field of Search 232/1 C, 17, 35, 34, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,564,305 12/1925 Fanders i. 232/35 1,904,448 4/1933 Hampden 1 r 232/35 2,496,962 2/l950 Shaw 232/1 C 3,386,649 6/1968 Joyce 232/34 3,498,256 3/1970 Hebal 232/34 X 3,576,600 6/1970 Andis 232/17 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. O'Brien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A signal newspaper receptacle having an arrangement including a door and signal flag disposed for indicating the presence of a newspaper in the receptacle. The door and flag are mounted on a shaft which is pivotal about a vertical axis in an inlet opening of the receptacle when same is horizontally disposed. Movement of the door will pivot the shaft and flag, and contrarily a pivotal movement of the flag will move the door. A suitable device may be used to releasably retain the door in a position blocking the inlet opening of the receptacle. The relationship of the signal flag to the door is such that when the door is in a position blocking the receptacle inlet opening the flag will indicate the lack of a newspaper or similar article in the receptacle.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC SIGNAL NEWSPAPER RECEPTACLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a newspaper delivery receptacle, and particularly to a signal indicator for indicating the presence of a newspaper, and the like, in a delivery receptacle.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. Nos. 3,386,649, issued June 4, 1968 to M. Joyce, 2,553,164, issued May 15, 195] to H. L. Bishop, and 2,496,962, issued Feb. 7, 1950 to W. S. Shaw, disclose delivery receptacles for newspapers, and the like, which are provided with pivotal indicators for signalling the delivery of the newspaper or similar article.

Newspapers in many smaller communities throughout the country are small and are folded for distribution in a way that each paper measures, for example, 12 inches in length and about three-fourths of an inch thick. A standard delivery receptacle for newspapers is, for example, 19 inches long. The newspaper is generally pushed into the receptacle all the way to the back thereof in case of precipitation. Thus, a delivery receptacle provided with a delivery signal indicator is not always suitable for use with such newspapers in that the paper may not retain the delivery indicating signal in a delivery indicating position. Further, some areas encounter heavy snows, and the like, that hinder retention of the signal in delivery indicating position. Further, such snows may penetrate into the receptacle if same is left open.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a signal newspaper delivery receptacle of improved construction,

It is another object of the present invention to provide a signal newspaper delivery receptacle suitable for use with the newspapers of smaller communities.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pivotal indicator signal suitable for use with a conventional newspaper delivery receptacle.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a signal newspaper delivery receptacle having: a receptacle arranged for the delivery of a newspaper, and provided with an inlet opening for the newspaper; and a signal arrangement disposed for indicating the presence of a newspaper in the receptacle.

A preferred embodiment of a signal arrangement according to the present invention has a door pivotally mounted adjacent the inlet opening of the receptacle. An indicator is connected to the door for movement therewith, and is arranged outside the receptacle so as to be visible from some distance. The door and indica tor are advantageously mounted on a shaft for movement therewith, and the shaft is disposed in opposed holes provided in top and bottom walls of the receptacle and arranged adjacent a side wall and the inlet opening thereof. A collar arranged on the shaft between the indicator and top of the receptacle forms a bearing which facilitates pivotal movement of the shaft. The door desirably is dimensioned so as to block sub stantially the entire inlet opening of the receptacle.

The door may be retained in a position blocking the receptacle inlet opening at any suitable, known device, such as a magnetic latch.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a signal newspaper delivery receptacle according to the present invention arranged on a post together with a conventional mailbox.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view show ing the newspaper delivery receptacle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly cut away, taken from the left rear of the delivery receptacle of FIGS. I and 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a bracket suitable for mounting a delivery receptacle according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a signal newspaper delivery receptacle ac cording to the present invention includes a receptacle 10 arranged for the delivery of a newspaper 12 (FIG. 2), and is provided with an inlet opening 14 for newspaper 12. An indicator 16 is provided on receptacle 10 for indicating the presence ofa newspaper 12 in receptacle 10. The latter may be mounted at an elevated position for, for example, vehicular delivery of a newspaper, and the like, in any suitable, known manner, with such mounting being accomplished in FIG. I of the drawings by an angle bracket 17 (FIG. 7) mounted on the end of a cantilever 18 extending from and connected to a post 20 upon which a standard mailbox 22 may also be disposed. Although the arrangement illustrated in FIG. I of the drawings may be suitable for the purposes of many uses of a delivery receptacle according to the present invention, it is to be understood that the delivery receptacle I0 and its associated signalling device may be deployed in any appropriate manner desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 6 of the drawings, the total indicator assembly includes a door 24 pivotally mounted adjacent inlet opening 14 as by a shaft 26 itself pivotally disposed in opposed holes 28 and 29 provided in top and bottom walls 30 and 32, respectively, of receptacle I0. Holes 28 and 29 are arranged adjacent a side wall 34 and inlet opening 14 of receptacle 10, while door 24 is advantageously and desirably dimensioned so as to fill substantially the entire area de fined by inlet opening 14. Door 24 may be attached to a shaft 26 of, for example, rectangular cross section in any suitable manner, but the preferred manner of attachment is to make two bends along the edge of the plate forming door 24 so as to form a generally U- shaped channel which will mate with and fit over shaft 26. One or more screw fasteners, and the like, are then advantageously employed to retain door 24 in a predetermined position with respect to shaft 26. In this manner, door 24 will pivot together with the shaft. Indicator 16 is similar to door 24 in that it is a plate forming a flag, and has two bends made along one edge of the plate to form a generally U-shaped channel dimensioned for mating with shaft 26 and fitting over same so as to be secured in a conventional manner such as by the illustrated screw fasteners. Thus, indicator 16 will also pivot with shaft 26. A collar 36 is advantageously arranged on shaft 26 between indicator l6 and the top 30 of receptacle 10 for forming a bearing which facilitates pivotal movement of shaft 26. As can be readily understood from the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 2 and 4 thereof, sufficient space between the upper edge of door 24 and top 30 of receptacle 10 is provided to permit door 24 to be lifted a sufficient distance to pull the lower end of shaft 26 out of hole 29 in bottom 32 of receptacle 10. In this manner, door 24 and shaft 26 may be easily removed from the receptacle as desired.

A magnetic latch 38, and the like, of conventional construction and commonly available on the market is advantageously arranged on a side wall 40 of receptacle l0, opposed to the side wall adjacent the holes 28 and 29, for releasably retaining the door 24 in a position blocking the inlet opening 14. This is the position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, and of the drawings. It will be appreciated, of course, that door 24 is in this in stance constructed from a magnetizable material, such as steel, which will be attracted by the magnetic latch 38.

The exact fabrication of the signal indicating assembly may vary as desired. For example, door 24 could be spot-welded, and the like, to the bar forming shaft 26, and indicator 16 could be bolted to shaft 26 with more than the signal screw fastener illustrated in the drawings. The holes 28 and 29 for receiving shaft 26, and those holes which are advantageously used for mount ing latch 38, would advantageously be partially stamped on the box so the user could have his choice of sides on which to mount the shaft and latch, left or right as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 4 of the draw ings. To assemble, the indicator 16 could be left off of shaft 26, and the shaft inserted first through the top hole 28 of the box and then through the bottom hole 29, with the indicator 16 being ultimately attached after the washer or collar 36, which is also intended to prevent water, and the like, from going into receptacle 10, is placed on shaft 26. The magnetic latch 38 may now also be mounted on wall 40 of the receptacle.

Door 24 is arranged back far enough in receptacle so that a short newspaper, and the like, will hold door 24 open when arranged in the receptacle. The magnetic attraction of latch 38 will be just strong enough to prevent door 24 from opening in the wind, and the like, but not so strong as to hinder delivery of the newspaper or similar article.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to iimit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A signal newspaper delivery receptacle, comprising, in combination:

a. a receptacle arranged for the deliverv of a newspaper; and provided with an inlet o ctna for the newspaper; and

b. means for indicating the presence of a newspaper in the receptacle; the means for indicating including, in combination:

i. a door;

ii. means for pivotally mounting the door adjacent the receptacle inlet opening for swinging move ment between a position transvers )f the receptacle and a position directed into the receptacle under pressure from an article inserted in the re ceptacle;

iii. an indicator connected to the door for movement therewith, and arranged outside the receptacle; and

iv. means for releasably retaining the door in a position blocking the inlet opening, the receptacle being normally disposed horizontally and extends longitudinally, the inlet opening forming one longitudinal end of the receptacle, and the door being a plate dimensioned to block substantially the entire inlet opening, the means for mounting including a shaft of substantially rectangular cross section, opposed holes provided in top and bottom walls of the receptacle and arranged adjacent and substantially parallel to a common side wall and the inlet opening thereof for pivotally receiving the shaft, the plate retained on the shaft, the indicator being a further plate forming a flag and having two bends made along one edge of the further plate to form a generally U-shaped channel dimensioned for mating with the shaft, the further plate retained on the shaft at right an gles with respect to the door, and a collar ar ranged on the shaft between the fa :r plate and the top wall of the receptacle for is :ning a hearing which facilitates pivotal movement of the shaft.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for retaining includes a magnet mounted on a side wall of the receptacle opposed to the side wall adjacent the holes mounting the shaft, with the door being constructed from a magnetizable material attracted by the magnet.

3. A signal for indicating the presence of an article in a receptacle, comprising, in combination:

a. a door;

b. means for pivotally mounting the door adjacent an inlet opening of a receptacle for swinging between a position transverse to the receptacle and a position directed into the receptacle under pressure from an article inserted into the receptacle;

c. an indicator connected to the door for movement therewith and arranged outside the associated receptacle; and

d. means for releasably retaining the door in a position blocking the inlet opening, the door being a plate dimensioned to block substantially an entire inlet opening of a receptacle, the means for mounting including a shaft of substantially rectangular cross section and arrangeable in opposed holes spect to the door, and a collar arranged on the shaft between the further plate and a top wall of the receptacle for forming a hearing which facilitates pivotal movement of the shaft.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the means for retaining includes a magnet, with the door being constructed from a magnetizable material attracted by the magnet. 

1. A signal newspaper delivery receptacle, comprising, in combination: a. a receptacle arranged for the delivery of a newspaper; and provided with an inlet opening for the newspaper; and b. means for indicating the presence of a newspaper in the receptacle; the means for indicating including, in combination: i. a door; ii. means for pivotally mounting the door adjacent the receptacle inlet opening for swinging movement between a position transverse of the receptacle and a position directed into the receptacle under pressure from an article inserted in the receptacle; iii. an indicator connected to the door for movement therewith, and arranged outside the receptacle; and iv. means for releasably retAining the door in a position blocking the inlet opening, the receptacle being normally disposed horizontally and extends longitudinally, the inlet opening forming one longitudinal end of the receptacle, and the door being a plate dimensioned to block substantially the entire inlet opening, the means for mounting including a shaft of substantially rectangular cross section, opposed holes provided in top and bottom walls of the receptacle and arranged adjacent and substantially parallel to a common side wall and the inlet opening thereof for pivotally receiving the shaft, the plate retained on the shaft, the indicator being a further plate forming a flag and having two bends made along one edge of the further plate to form a generally U-shaped channel dimensioned for mating with the shaft, the further plate retained on the shaft at right angles with respect to the door, and a collar arranged on the shaft between the further plate and the top wall of the receptacle for forming a bearing which facilitates pivotal movement of the shaft.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for retaining includes a magnet mounted on a side wall of the receptacle opposed to the side wall adjacent the holes mounting the shaft, with the door being constructed from a magnetizable material attracted by the magnet.
 3. A signal for indicating the presence of an article in a receptacle, comprising, in combination: a. a door; b. means for pivotally mounting the door adjacent an inlet opening of a receptacle for swinging between a position transverse to the receptacle and a position directed into the receptacle under pressure from an article inserted into the receptacle; c. an indicator connected to the door for movement therewith and arranged outside the associated receptacle; and d. means for releasably retaining the door in a position blocking the inlet opening, the door being a plate dimensioned to block substantially an entire inlet opening of a receptacle, the means for mounting including a shaft of substantially rectangular cross section and arrangeable in opposed holes provided in top and bottom walls of a normally horizontally disposed receptacle and arrangeable adjacent and substantially parallel to a common side wall and the inlet opening of the receptacle, the indicator being a further plate forming a flag and having two bends made along one edge of the further plate to form a generally U-shaped channel dimensioned for mating with the shaft, the further plate retained on the shaft at right angles with respect to the door, and a collar arranged on the shaft between the further plate and a top wall of the receptacle for forming a bearing which facilitates pivotal movement of the shaft.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the means for retaining includes a magnet, with the door being constructed from a magnetizable material attracted by the magnet. 